A Roman Catholic church in West Springfield, will be closing its doors in September, due to declining membership and financial difficulties.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish on Main street has petitioned Bishop Mitchell Rozanski to close the church, and he accepted the recommendation.

The decision was announced at the Masses in weekend, reported from iObserve .org, the Diocese’s official news agency.

The church’s final Mass will be held on September 4, at 10:30 a.m.

The parish was formed in 2008 through the merging of Immaculate Concepcion, St. Louis de France Parish and St. Ann’s Mission Church. At that time, the new church faced several difficulties, including this year.
Deacon Donald Philip explained their problems to parishioners.

“For more than a year, our parish and finance councils have been meeting together, seeking a solution to what became a ‘perfect storm’ of a changing neighborhood, aging buildings, and small numbers in the pews,” Philip said.

The struggles were the parish had to suspend its religious education program since there were no young people enrolled either on their first communion or confirmation classes. The church stated it had to contend with water and masonry problems in the church building and its poor finances.

The popular St. Jude Novena will continue at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish on Pine Street in West Springfield, after the church’s closing.